Daniel Orsanic has replaced Martin Jaite as Argentina’s Davis Cup captain. Orsanic, who played on the ATP tour from 1987-2001, will lead his team at home against Brazil in World Group play, March 6-8. He has only signed on for one year.
Jaite publicly battled with Argentina's top player, Juan Martin del Potro, during the last two years; the former U.S. Open champion stopped playing the competition altogether. This year, Argentina lost to Italy in the first round of World Group play, and then overcame Israel in the World Group Play-off, 3-2, with Leonardo Mayer and Carlos Berlocq.
Del Potro hasn't played Davis Cup since 2012, when Argentina faced the Czech Republic in the semifinals in Argentina. Del Potro won his first match, but ruled himself out of other matches with injury; the Czechs won the tie, 3-2. Some were furious that del Potro couldn't find a way to play another match, while the Argentine was upset at being criticized when it was clear that he was injured. Del Potro and Jaite disagreed, which clearly became an issue after the tie.
Now that Orsanic is captain, del Potro may reconsider his participation in Davis Cup in 2015. Currently ranked No. 138, the former No. 4 hasn't played since February due to his left wrist. He has resumed hitting, however, and has been given wild cards into Brisbane and Sydney next month. Del Potro defeated Bernard Tomic in the Sydney final last January.